The Dallas Stars got a jump on the rest of the NHL when they acquired Jason Spezza and Ludvig Karlsson for Alec Chiasson, Alex Guptill, Nicholas Paul and 2nd round pick in 2015.

The West continues to get stronger, and if the Oilers plan to become competitive in two years they must develop Leon Draisaitl correctly. You need elite centres, two of them, to compete in the western conference.

The Oilers won't get an elite centre in free agency, but they will try to find some quality veterans to help the Oilers young core become more competitive.

BREAKING...Oilers sign Mark Fayne to a four-year deal at $3.5 million/year and Benoit Pouliot for five years at $4 mill/year.

Former Oiler, Ales Hemsky, signs in Dallas for three years at $4 million/year

Oilers sign Keith Aulie to a one-year deal. Good depth guy. He can be a #6/7 and it is better that he sits in the pressbox instead of a young D-man.

The Oilers will try to land a centre, a 3rd line left winger a 4th line right winger and some D-men.

If they can land two of those players that would be a good day, if they get three would very good. We'll see what happens.

We will update you as the day unfolds.

Also, before we get to hockey I'd like to say Happy 147th birthday to The True North Strong and Free. I'm extremely lucky to have been born in this great country and make sure you celebrate our great Nation today.

QUICK HITS...

With Dallas trading for Spezza, this puts even more pressure on St.Louis to try and sign Stastny. I like Stastny a lot, but if he gets $7mill/year that is huge money for a guy who is a great 2nd line centre.

Jarome Iginla and the Bruins might have to part ways because the Bs have limited cap space. Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Colorado and Detroit are interested. The Avs really like Iginla and want his experience and if they lose out on Stastny, which seems likely, they could go hard after Iggy.

Dave Bolland is my pick for biggest overpayment. Who is yours?

SIGNINGS BEGIN...

Penguins sign Ehrhoff for one year at $4 million. Good signing for Pens, especially with Maatta coming off shoulder surgery.

Manny Malhotra signs a one year, $850,000 deal with Montreal. Malhotra continues to be a great feel good story....

Mark Fayne at four years $3.5 million is a solid signing, but I don't see him more than a #4 long term. The most important part of this signing is that means the Oilers don't have to rush their young D-men.

Pouliot'sfive years concerns me. Time will tell, but that money for five years could be an issue in the future. He has played on five teams in five years. The Oilers needed a proven NHL player and he is that, but five years is major risk, IMO. Pouliot is a former #4 overall pick, so he does have some skill. I like that he is very aggressive on the forecheck and he will give the Oilers a good puck retriever.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

I don't thing Daryl "Harold Ballard" Katz has put one bit of pressure on any of these guys.

He has his NHL toy and that's all that matters.

I was thinking that at first and still did for a while, but when he bought the Oil Kings, Condors and Barons (though it may be just the franchise and whatever he still has control) I actually think he is putting together a nice little setup to develop and have the control to develop not only players, but staff and coaches and that's a pretty intelligent move.

In the end, he is a businessman and fans and sponsors will only take so much of being terrible before they all disappear, and as Oil fans are loyal as fook and at a breaking point I'm sure, he needs to make this team competitive and he is spending the money to do that. The Arena target makes sense to me but it's only speculation of course.

I don't expect miracles, but I like progress and I think that was made today.

I was thinking that at first and still did for a while, but when he bought the Oil Kings, Condors and Barons (though it may be just the franchise and whatever he still has control) I actually think he is putting together a nice little setup to develop and have the control to develop not only players, but staff and coaches and that's a pretty intelligent move.

In the end, he is a businessman and fans and sponsors will only take so much of being terrible before they all disappear, and as Oil fans are loyal as fook and at a breaking point I'm sure, he needs to make this team competitive and he is spending the money to do that. The Arena target makes sense to me but it's only speculation of course.

I don't expect miracles, but I like progress and I think that was made today.

Besides his dream of a cup win with the old boys network in tow, he has plans to create a northern version of anshcutz or a western Canadian version of MLSE. The teams mentioned above were aquired primarily for business purposes - not winning.

The Oil have paid more for Pouliot and Nikitin than most other teams would have to. However, as the they have plenty of cap room, at least for this year and likely next as well, what is the downside of this? It's just a few more $ out of the K man's pocket. Would it have been a better result if MacT had tried to get more economical deals and come up with nothing?

Meszaros is a bad bet @ $4.125M but at least it's ony a 1 year deal for the 3rd pair D-man. He's had a lot of hard miles on him and he's broken down worse than Nick Schultz blocking shots and playing a physical style.

Moulson's deal was a slight overpay and 2 years too long (like Pouliot's deal with the Oilers) but Buffalo needed that contract along with Meszaros' contract to reach the cap floor.

Boyle's deal was good value if he can play as a 3rd liner for all 3 years of the deal

The Oil have paid more for Pouliot and Nikitin than most other teams would have to. However, as the they have plenty of cap room, at least for this year and likely next as well, what is the downside of this? It's just a few more $ out of the K man's pocket. Would it have been a better result if MacT had tried to get more economical deals and come up with nothing?

That's a sad reality if hockey these days. Canadian players trained and playing in Canada give the maple leaf the big middle finger and go to Warner cities down south. Thanks bettman.

Ok, The IQ level of this conversation has gone way down. Your comparing using derogatory comments to advising someone they need to change a tire? I'm starting to understand why "Developmentally Challenged" run's in your family.

*see now you've gotten me to lower myself to your neanderthal level*

I am done with you and this terrible back and forth.

God,
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
- Amen

Thanks for showing what human filth you really are. Your parents should be proud.

ANYONE WHO BITCHES ABOUT THE FACT THAT PLAYERS DONTBWANT TO COME TO EDMONTON....... IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BUFFALO!!

THE FACT IS.... MAC T IS A FOOL!!

Don't forget class shown when Pronger left? Did you folks burn his furniture? How about Comrie being asked to pay money to be traded. The Surrey fiasco. Stoll, Green, Brewer, Penner all ran out of town. Have you seen the Six ring pressers? What about MacT's treatment of players or the way ownership screwed the city for a new rink.

I said it in an earlier post. Edmonton Oilers is like Fort Mac. No one really wants to be there but they over pay so bad that it can be worth your while if you want to sacrifice a few years. Now these player can site back and relax while they collect their paychecks. Good for them.

ANYONE WHO BITCHES ABOUT THE FACT THAT PLAYERS DONTBWANT TO COME TO EDMONTON....... IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BUFFALO!!

THE FACT IS.... MAC T IS A FOOL!!

You know I like posting on this site and enjoy the opinions of other posters also. The difference between your post and those I enjoy is that the ones I enjoy show thought, intelligence and actually knowledge of hockey.

Spewing unintelligent thought not backed up with fact just shows us how irrelevant you are. This will be the one and only response you will receive from me ever.

Don't forget class shown when Pronger left? Did you folks burn his furniture? How about Comrie being asked to pay money to be traded. The Surrey fiasco. Stoll, Green, Brewer, Penner all ran out of town. Have you seen the Six ring pressers? What about MacT's treatment of players or the way ownership screwed the city for a new rink.

I said it in an earlier post. Edmonton Oilers is like Fort Mac. No one really wants to be there but they over pay so bad that it can be worth your while if you want to sacrifice a few years. Now these player can site back and relax while they collect their paychecks. Good for them.

Please go back to your fLamer site. Your Putz is showing and you're embarrassing yourself. We don't care what you have to say so please Troll elsewhere.

You know I like posting on this site and enjoy the opinions of other posters also. The difference between your post and those I enjoy is that the ones I enjoy show thought, intelligence and actually knowledge of hockey.

Spewing unintelligent thought not backed up with fact just shows us how irrelevant you are. This will be the one and only response you will receive from me ever.

Show some class and go troll elsewhere.

Lol, great response. You must already have your season tickets. Enjoy the show! Gonna be worth it for sure.

Besides his dream of a cup win with the old boys network in tow, he has plans to create a northern version of anshcutz or a western Canadian version of MLSE. The teams mentioned above were aquired primarily for business purposes - not winning.

Serious Gord nails it, as usual.
It's funny how Oiler fan still thinks The Carpetbagger gives a flyign fk about the on-ice product.
He's in it for the green. Nothing else.
Wake up.

Alright, enough of the p!ssing and moaning about the players who did and didn't sign here. Here's a few simple rules to consider when looking at the deals:

1. players have preferences and it's not always about the money. They have friends, former coaches and other contacts on different teams and sometimes it's nice to be on the same team as them no matter how much money another team offers the player.

2. Sometimes it's about having a shot at the Cup. Ehrhoff signs for $4M with the Penguins. Couldn't MacT beat that? Of course he could but Ehrhoff goes to a team that is almost guaranteed a post season berth because of the other players on it. Accept it and move on.

3. Sometimes it's about living somewhere that gives you anonymity or is just beautiful all year round. Some places give you both. Play in Florida? Sure. No one is likely to bother you when you are out with your family for supper and heck, winters would be a breeze. Same for Tampa Bay. And LA. And Anaheim. And Phoenix. And San Jose. It's an off ice competitive advantage that is impossible to beat, so don't even try.

4. Sometimes it is about the money and the term. I'm happy Calgary went crazy on Engelland's contract. Really, really happy. Just be happier that it wasn't one of our contracts. If I worked in a career that averaged 5 to 7 years, you bet that I'd love to cash in when I had an opportunity. And when you can offer a team something that few of your competitors can, like "truculence", it's called having a competitive advantage and you will get paid more (see below).

5. Finally, every contract is "market rate". How do I know? Because up to 30 teams in the NHL and an untold number of overseas teams sets it by bidding for free agents. It's called the free market and it is subject to the laws of "supply" and "demand". Need a quality right shot defencemen in 2014/15? Guess what. There's only a couple available-- so gentlemen, prepare to open your wallets and guess what, if enough GMs are offering money that you can live with, factors 1 to 4 come back into the equation.